Key Takeaways Procedural Milestone Sets Stage for Early-Morning Votes Shortly before midnight in Washington, the 13-member House Rules Committee reconvened after a nearly 22-hour marathon session. By an 8–4 margin, including no Democratic support, the committee approved a package of amendments and procedural motions to bring President Trump’s signature legislation—dubbed the “big, beautiful bill”—to the […]
Key Takeaways A Third Time’s the Charm: From VAT Hike to Budget Consensus Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana delivered his third iteration of the 2025 Budget speech on 21 May 2025, having twice postponed the exercise amid coalition wrangling over a proposed VAT rise (Government of South Africa, Xinhua). In March, he had outlined a phased […]
In a major shake-up for Kenya’s supplier community, the National Treasury has declared Sh270 billion of pending government bills ineligible for payment, according to a statement by Treasury Principal Secretary Chris Kiptoo. A special audit committee, chaired by former Auditor General Edward Ouko, vetted Sh665 billion in outstanding claims and cleared just Sh230 billion as […]
A recent April 2025 Economic Impact Study by Nielsen has quantified what many in Thailand’s sports and tourism sectors have long suspected: ONE Championship, the world’s largest martial-arts organisation, generates approximately US $470 million in annual economic value for Thailand through its portfolio of combat-sports events (Bangkok Post, nationthailand). From packed stadiums in Bangkok to […]
In response to swirling media reports and diplomatic rumblings, South Africa’s Department of Agriculture has officially denied ever imposing a ban on the importation of Tanzanian bananas. Instead, officials emphasize that market access for this staple fruit has simply never been formalized—meaning neither a ban nor approval has been put into effect. The clarification comes […]
Introduction Today, President William Ruto is set to hand over 1,080 housing units to beneficiaries of the Mukuru Affordable Housing Project in Embakasi South, Nairobi. Spanning 56 acres, Mukuru stands as Kenya’s largest affordable housing development to date, ultimately delivering 13,248 homes across multiple phases (The Star). This milestone forms part of the Government’s Affordable […]
Introduction The fifth edition of the Qatar Economic Forum, Powered by Bloomberg, arrives at a pivotal juncture in global affairs, marked by seismic shifts in markets, technology, and geopolitics. Under the patronage of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Forum convenes from May 20–22, 2025, at the Qatar National Convention […]
Introduction When U.S. President Donald Trump announced reciprocal tariffs on April 2, 2025, African exporters braced for impact. Eight member states of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) found their goods suddenly subject to duties ranging from 10% up to 50%, even as critical minerals remained exempt. Faced with this abrupt policy […]
Introduction Kenya’s vibrant horticulture sector, long celebrated for supplying Europe with beans, peas, and an array of fresh produce, faced a dramatic setback in 2024 when the European Union’s (EU) tightened pesticide and phytosanitary protocols slashed export volumes by over 50 percent. According to the 2025 Economic Survey published by the Kenya National Bureau of […]
Introduction Early on Friday, Moody’s Investors Service cut the United States’ sovereign credit rating by one notch—from Aaa to Aa1—citing the nation’s burgeoning US $36 trillion debt burden and a track record of persistent fiscal deficits. As the last of the three major ratings agencies to downgrade America’s once-pristine rating, Moody’s move has sharpened investor […]
Kenyans holding virtual assets such as cryptocurrencies and other digital tokens could soon have the option to insure them under...
Goldman Sachs has issued a stark warning about mounting risks to global supply chains of rare earth elements and other...
BP, one of the world's largest integrated energy companies, has confirmed the preliminary results of the Volans-1X exploration well in...
By Brian NzomoOctober 22, 2025 Tether, the company behind the world's largest stablecoin USDT, has made a strategic investment in...
